reason; it was even given to the henbane because of the deadly properties of that plant. In the writings of the middle ages, in St. Augustine, St. Isidore, Marbodeus, and even in Pliny, we find some confusion between the two uses of _adamas_ to denote the loadstone as well as the diamond. Certainly the word _adamas_, without ceasing to be applied to the diamond, also designated the loadstone. At the same time (says Martin) the word _magnes_ was preserved, as Pliny records, to designate a loadstone of lesser strength than the _adamas_. On the other hand, the word _diamas_, or _deamans_, had already in the thirteenth century been introduced into Latin to signify the diamond as distinguisht from the magnet. _Adamas_ was rendered _aymant_ in the romance version of the poem of Marbodeus on stones (see Beckmann's variorum edition of 1799, p. 102), and in this form it was for a time used to denote both the magnet and the diamond. Then it gradually became restricted in use to the stone that attracts iron. Some confusion has also arisen with respect to the Hebrew name of the magnet. Sir W. Snow Harris makes the following statement (_Magnetism_, p. 5): "In the Talmud it [the loadstone] is termed _achzhàb'th_, the stone which attracts; and in their ancient prayers it has the European name _magn[=e]s_." On this point Dr. A. Löwy has furnisht the following notes. The loadstone is termed in one of the Talmudical sections and in the Midrash, _Eben Shoebeth_ (lapis attrahens). This would of course be written [Hebrew: 'BN SHW'BT]. Omitting the [Hebrew: W] which marks the participial construction, the words would stand thus: [Hebrew: 'BN SH'BT] A person referring to Buxtorf's _Lexicon_ Talmudicum would in the index look out for "Lapis magnesius," or for "magnes." He would then, in the first instance, be referred to the two words already quoted. Not knowing the value of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, he reads [Hebrew: 'BN SH'BT] thus: [Hebrew: 'KZSH'BT] achzhab'th. It is true that Buxtorf has inserted in his _Lexicon_ the vocable [Hebrew: MAGNIYSEIS], "corruptum ex gr. [Greek: magnês, magnêtês, magnêtis], named after the Asiatic city Magnesia." He goes on to say, "Inde Achilles Statius istum lapidem vocavit [Greek: magnêsian lithon]. Hinc [Hebrew: 'BN HMGNJSS CHMSHWK HBRZL]. Lapis Magnesius trahit ferrum." Here he quotes from (Sepher) Ikkarem IV., cap. 35. Kircher, in his _Magnes, sive de Arte magnetica_ (Coloniæ, 1643), gives several other references to Hebrew literature. Others have supposed that the word [Hebrew: CHLMYSH] _khallamish_, which signifies pebble, rock, or hard rock, to be used for the magnet.